Saudi Budget Carrier Launches Europe, Africa, Asia Long-Haul

Jeddah-based Flynas is about to join a string of airlines offering low-cost long-haul flights, as budget carriers in emerging markets seek to disprove the adage that the business model can’t succeed.

In April, Flynas will begin rolling out routes from Jeddah to London Gatwick and Manchester in the U.K., Paris in France, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Jakarta in Indonesia and Casablanca in Morocco. It will fly Airbus A330 aircrafts and include a 12-seat business class cabin.

“[This] is a key element of our strategy to lead the airline into a new chapter of aggressive growth,” Raja Azmi, chief executive of privately-held Flynas, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Long-haul budget carriers offer a similar package to the short-haul model. Perks like WiFi, in-flight entertainment and meals are often at additional cost. The seats tend to be smaller in order to pack in more bodies, and excess baggage is normally a luxury.

“Low-cost long-haul is an increasingly large part of the market, particularly emerging markets,” said Oliver Lamb, the managing director of Pacific Aviation Consulting. “And if you would have asked me five years ago, I would have said the jury was out.”

Saudi Arabia is ripe for further expansion of airlines, according to analysts, as a growing middle class begins flying, while the country last year opened up its domestic market by offering additional airline licences. Currently only Flynas and Saudia can fly within the country, but Qatar Airways and Saudi Gulf Airlines plan to launch services this year. International airlines, such as British Airways and Air France, fly in and out of the Kingdom from Europe.

Since its launch in 2007, Flynas has competed with peers Air Arabia and FlyDubai in expanding short-haul destinations around the Middle East, Africa and Europe. But the two other carriers, both based in the United Arab Emirates, have been more aggressive in opening routes further afield within a five-hour radius in cities across Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia.